Stereotypes in A Tale of Two Cities: Intentional or not? Morgan Magnus Feburary 3, 1996 Charles Dickens stereotypes many of his Characters in A Tale of Two Cities. Among these stereotyped characters are The Marquis D' Evremond, Lucy, and Miss Pross. These particular stereotypes were probably intentional, for Dicken's was not a skilled writer. The Marquis d' Evremond was probably intentionally stereotyped. His character is basically used to represent the French Military of the time, so he was as cruel, ignorant, and pompous as the French citizens were at that time. His actions when his carriage runs over a child clearly show Dickens's motive: to portray the French Military of the era as kind and generous citizens, and to sort of justify the French Revolution. His dialogue with Miss Pross early in the story also shows his contempt for the proletariat; furthering his role as the stereotype of the Military. Just as he symbolizes the blood spilled in the revolution, his birth symbolizes the fall of the Monarchy to come. Lucy's stereotyping was perhaps unintentional. Civil view of women has been only until recently, and even currently, congruent with that which he used in his book. Lucy was a very stereotypical, dumb, Victorian-age woman. Her dialogue throughout the story is the main indicator of the fact that she is stereotyped, but also that she does not play an active role in the plot: She is a prominent figure in the story-line, but she never really DOES anything. This was consistent with the views of that period; the wife would be an important factor in the husband's life, but she really wouldn't DO anything. But Possibly, Dickens may have been above this, but realized that she would be a more believable and acceptable character if he portrayed her as he did. However, when Lucy was struck down by the cruel and inhumane Marquis, and his close friend Dansker, her importance is emphasized by her final quote, "Marquis, I love you....." Miss Pross was the third stereotyped character. Though she was not particularly instrumental in the plot, she did add flavour to the story and allowed Lucy to be more intelligent through her (Miss Pross, being her advisor, could believably give Lucy council that the more intelligent but less acceptable Lucy would have thought of herself.) And Miss Pross needn't be unintelligent, as the stereotype for Grandmothers was not as rigidly defined on that matter as the stereotype for housewives was. And her continual (if not annoying) interruption of Lucy to provide her with advice was definitely consistent with the typified Grandmother. For this reason, it is reasonable to assume that Dickens stereotyped Miss Pross on purpose, possibly venting his feelings towards his own grandmother, Francis Beacon, to whom he owed much displeasure. Most probably, then, all three were stereotyped for a purpose. However, intentional stereotyping seems to be an oxymoron; 'stereotype' in an inherently derogatory word. It infers that it the person who is stereotyping is incorrectly associating an idea with a group. Dickens was intentionally doing this, so was it truly a stereotype? And in the case of the Marquis, where the quote-unquote stereotype was almost certainly true, does that constitute a stereotype as well? Well, probably so, but that's still something to think about.